The '60s ball vs. the '90s : Why newer's better - comparison of golf balls - Brief Article

Golf Digest, Jan, 2000

Would Jack Nicklaus have won even more tournaments if he'd had a ball then that was as good as the ones made now? What, in fact, is the difference between balls then and now? Basically, the balls used in the 1960s curved more because they had softer covers and higher spin rates. Trajectories were higher due to dimple design and spin rate, and they were more affected by wind.

Mis-hits were also more exaggerated then as opposed to now, due to a couple of factors: Clubs were not as forgiving back then, because players used irons with very small sweet spots. Also, the modern ball is manufactured with much greater consistency than those of the past.